Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer engine, a storage unit, a print data interpreting unit, and a print control unit. The print data interpreting unit interprets print data and identifies both a first job type and a second job type. The first job type specifies any one of a special print job using special toner and a normal job using normal toner, and the second job type specifies a print function to be used. The print control unit makes a decision to permit or prohibit accumulation of print data in view of security based on the first job type and the second job type, accumulates the print data in the storage unit when the decision to permit the accumulation of the print data is made, and prohibits the accumulation of the print data when the decision to prohibits the accumulation of the print data is made.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to avoid unnecessary print out and cut wasteful consumption of resources and electricity. A printer receives a command indicating whether or not a user does not need to print out images such as advertisements on web pages. If a drawing command acquired by analyzing received print data is image, the printer determines whether or not the command is to draw images based on the user's choice and execute a drawing process along with the command from the user. Consequently, the printer can print out text information with eliminating image information which is noise for the user and can eliminate print out for unnecessary image information.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and an output management server. The output management server includes a receiving unit to receive an output data, an analysis unit to analyze the output data and determine a PDL required for outputting the output data, a management unit to determine whether the PDL is available, and a transmitting unit to transmit the output data and an executable file of the PDL to the designated image forming apparatus, when the PDL is determined as available. The image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit to receive the output data and the executable file of the PDL, a control unit to activate the executable file of the PDL and develop the output data, an output unit to output the output data, and a deleting unit to delete the executable file of the PDL, after the outputting of the output data is completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer engine, a storage unit, a print data interpreting unit, and a print control unit. The print data interpreting unit interprets print data and identifies both a first job type and a second job type. The first job type specifies any one of a special print job using special toner and a normal job using normal toner, and the second job type specifies a print function to be used. The print control unit makes a decision to permit or prohibit accumulation of print data in view of security based on the first job type and the second job type, accumulates the print data in the storage unit when the decision to permit the accumulation of the print data is made, and prohibits the accumulation of the print data when the decision to prohibits the accumulation of the print data is made.